It is going to be very different next year. I think there are only like 2 games that they base on records from the previous year, so no more "5th place schedule" or whatever. Not that that even mattered lately, thanks to the parity of the NFL. Are you listening, MLB? Parity! So the damn Yankees don't win the AL every year. So salaries don't skyrocket. So there isn't the threat of a strike or a lockout every 2 seasons. It's called a salary cap. Try to make use of it.

Of course, my beloved Seahawks go from not being able to secure a playoff spot in the AFC to being in the same division with the should-be SuperBowl champs the Rams and the will-be dominant again 49ers. Thank goodness for multiple wildcard teams :-)

Scheduling formulaEach team within a division will play 14 common opponents as follows: Each team will play home and away against its three division opponents (6 games).

Each team will play the four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (4 games).

Each team will play the four teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle (4 games).

Each team will play a pair of intraconference games based on the prior year's standings (2 games), i.e. first-place teams in a division will play against the first-place teams from another division within the same conference, etc

[EDIT, MORE INFO************************************]Under the new scheduling formula, every team within a division will play 16 games as follows:

Home and away against its three division opponents (6 games). The four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (4 games). The four teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle (4 games). Two intraconference games based on the previous year's standings (2 games). These games will match a first-place team against the first-place teams in the two same-conference divisions the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place, and fourth-place teams in a conference will be matched in the same way each year. NOTE: Following are past schedule aberrations that no longer will occur under the new formula:

Oakland did not play in Pittsburgh from 1981 through 1999. Miami and Denver played once between 1983-1997 when Dan Marino and John Elway were in their primes. Green Bay and Washington did not play from 1989-2000 and have not played in Washington since 1979. Atlanta and the New York Giants did not play from 1989-1997. Pittsburgh and Kansas City have played five consecutive times in Kansas City. Green Bay played in Dallas four years in a row from 1993-96. Tampa Bay has never played in Buffalo.

-- Ladies and gentlemen take my advice, pull down your pants and slide on the ice. -- Satisfaction GUARENTEED!!!! or you owe me ONE MILLION DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!!!R-D-Z

Of course, my beloved Seahawks go from not being able to secure a playoff spot in the AFC to being in the same division with the should-be SuperBowl champs the Rams and the will-be dominant again 49ers. Thank goodness for multiple wildcard teams :-)

Actually, I'm sure that both of them being somewhat underachieving teams (understatement?) that they'll quickly establish a rivalry of I beat you, you beat me, both of us home early for the offseason with our family ;-)

In reading the Seahawks site, I heard Holmgren say that next year's changes aren't limited to the NFC West and a new stadium, but will also include new uniforms.

Of course, I'll be an old fogey who is opposed to all change and scream bloody murder at this point without having seen a thing. Hold on, this will only take a moment.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Of course, I reserve the right to change my feeble mind once I actually see the darned things. The Bucs made such a good decision, but the Seahawks unis are fine already IMHO. Thank goodness I already have my personalized #10 Jim Zorn jersey in the current style.

AFC East-- A strong division, difficult to say who'd win it in '02 with all the parity. Let's say New England.

AFC North-- Pittsburgh. Ravens finish second.

AFC South-- ...Wow. I'm feeling confident, I say the Colts will win the first-ever AFC South division championship. I'm looking forward to feasting on the Texans and Jaguars for a little while.

AFC West-- I'll take Denver, I know a lot of people will disagree and say Oakland.

NFC East-- OK, I'm still curious as to why Dallas is considered ?East?. But anyway. I'll say the Eagles.

NFC North-- Yikes, um, Green Bay. Tough division.

NFC South-- Hahahahahahahaha! Weakest division by far, IMHO. The Bucs should win the division, in theory. But I think they may have screwed themselves by giving us Dungy. (Thanks very much, by the way!)

NFC West-- Definitely going with St. Louis. San Fran might get close, but I don't see them overtaking the Rams this year.

Then again, with all the parity in the league (which I think isn't necessarily a good thing-- can any casual fan name the last five Super Bowl champs off the top of their head? Because I can't.) it's difficult to say exactly who they'll be.

Now some random thoughts about geography:

Why is Indianapolis considered ?South??Why is Dallas considered ?East?, but at the same time St. Louis is ?West??

I realize, for Packer fans, that games against Detroit and Chicago are much more history filled, but as a Bucs fan, I will miss the bi-annual (or is it semi-annual? I always get them confused) games against Green Bay. They were easily the most anticipated matchup of the year before the Rams feud that has been formed over the last two years.

Now, Tampa is stuck in a division with no emotion, no rivalries, and no hatred. No game (in-division anyway. The Bucs still play the Pack, Rams and others next year) stands out as a can't miss showdown to look forward too.

"A lot of guys on this team have a lot of bark, but no bite. Guys have to just shut up and play."-- WR Keyshawn Johnson, following the playoff loss to Philadelphia